St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-11-19
PERSONAL PARAGRAPHS.
Interesting Gossip Concerning People OF
Note in the World.

Note in the World.
William Fearing Gill, who at one time de-
veloped terrible case of Poe mania claims
that once upon a summer evening as he was
sitting by an open win wv in New YORK
hotel a raven suddenly flew into the room,
and, perching upon table, eyed him most
inteIligently. He refused to leave the apart
ment. Mr.. Gill, after much trouble caught
the strange visitor, and the next day took
him to dealer in birds. He insists that the
raven was an actual fact and no optical de-
ausion or freak of the imagination. He
seems to think that the ebony bird was
che soul of Poe seeking the company of one
of his greatest admirers for some unexplained
purpose
William Waldorf Aston, who is the heir
presumptive to about S2000O0.O0O is model
man for mllionare's SON Although mod
,erately fond of horses and yachting and a
good boxer and fencer. he is more man of
business than a man of pleasure. He is a
man of strong literary and artistic tastes
and had he not been a rich mans son he
would very probably have been an artist or
an author. He is tall, slender and distin-
guished-iooking; polite to everybody but
very reserved. When he was minister to Italy
his entertainments were more splendid than
those Of the King.
F. c. Burnard, the present editor of Punch,
was in early life member Of a Catholic eccle-
siastical establishment in Bayswater, near
London. His intention was to become a
priest, and he was even admitted to tonsure
and minor orders. 1t is difficult to imagine
the editor of Punch and author of Happy
Thoughts" seriously thinking of being
priest. His favorite recreation, after the Sc
we're labors of editing Punch, is to lie on his
back with pipe in his mouth and read the
London Tablet and the New York Freenaans
Journal.
Ell. Rider Haggard has written a very
strong article, denouncing in the severest
language the American publishers who have
been and are pirating his works. Hesays that
since the present system of piracy set in
America has scarcely produced a single
writer of the first class, and if this thing
continues American literature will soon be
represented chiefly in the columns of very
enterprising daily press; and the American
people will become so impregnated with En-
glish ideas and modes of thought that they
will cease TO be Americans except in name.
Donald G. Mitchell who is perhaps better
known by his nom de plume of TX Marvel,
has fine, clear-cut and decidedly aristocratic
features, reminding one of an antique cameo.
He dresses in somewhat of a picturesque
style, is fond of gay colors and looks like
literary man. He has gathered at his home
at Edgewood fine library. some choice pic
lures and beautiful things from many lands.
He has large family, for his reveries have
been interrupted by ten children, and their
another is just the gentle, lovely lady that
belongs to an authors home.
John Foster Kirk, for many years editor
of Lippimcott's Magazine, was for seventeen
years the amanuensis of William Ell. Pres
colt, the historian. While occupying this
position he wrote the history of Charles the
Bold which was very successful. This is
the only work Mr.. Kirk has ever published.
He is now about sixty-fve years old his
wife, who was known as writer for several
years before she married him, was Ellen
Olney. She is supposed to be the author Of
the very popular novel, "The Story of Mar
garet Kent
Mrs. Francis JeuDe is one of the most
charming leaders of the social world of Lon
DON She is said to have genius for enter
tanning. She has bright and beautiful
face, cordial manners and perfect self-for-
.getfulness. Her soyoir .faire is really won
derful; she is very prompt in her social tao
tics. If a man is particularly interesting or
q woman specially beautiful, she takes care
hot o ho iS NV
person; and if she sees a man or woman ne
elected she rushes t. the rescue Immediately.
The Chinese minister recently called upon
the Hon. W. Bourke Cork ran, at his home
in one of the mammoII, New York apart
ment houses. and, although his excellency
was attended by two secretaries, the stupid
janitor mistook the distinguished gentlemen
for common Chinese laundrymen and in
vited them into the kitchen. When the
mistake was discovered ali If Bourke Cork
rams mellihuous eloquence was required to
soothe the offended dignity of the high and
mighty celestial
Count D'Orsay was a Bohemian of the
grand princely type. For quarter of
century he was the glass of fashion of the
London world, although he was so deeply in
debt, and so harassed by bailiffs, that it was
only on Sunday he could stir out of doors for
fear of being arrested. But on every Sunday
he appeared in Hyde Park Respondent in
dress and driving handsome horse.
Henry James, the head and front of the
realistic school Of novelists, is growing fat
and more like the Prince of Wales in con-
sequence. AS writer, his popularity is on
the wane, but as London society man he
is bright particular star in certain circles.
Aggressive as he is in his books, in society
he is very modest and rather reserved
STYLUS.
A NOBLE MODESTY.